57th Red Ryan tourney starts today at Derryfield

July 28. 2014 7:55PMDefending junior division champion Eric Evans of Dover will be challenged by a strong field when the 57th annual Red Ryan CYO Golf Tournament tees off today at 8 a.m. at Derryfield Country Club in Manchester.

Today’s format includes an 18-hole medal play round for the junior and intermediate divisions and a nine-hole medal round for the mite division. The tournament continues at 8 a.m. for all three levels on Wednesday (quarterfinals) and Thursday (semifinals, finals) under the match play format.

Top challengers for Evans’ title are Brennan Gillis of Merrimack, Thomas Ethier of Nashua, Eric Keilty of Dover and two-time defending mite division champion Phillip Schmitz of Mont Vernon.

The 2013 intermediate division champion, Tim Manwaring of Keene, is not eligible to defend his crown. Looking to win the vacant title this summer is 2013 junior division medalist Roman Ojala of Keene. Ojala also won the mite division title in 2010. Doug Champagne and Joshua Lacasse, both of Bow, will likely challenge Ojala for this year’s top spot.

Other contenders are Northfield’s Jordan Dahl and, Roger Larrivee and Dylan Cowette, both of Bedford.

The vacant mite division crown has many challengers, including Owen Cook of Manchester, C.J. LaDue of Bedford and Nashua’s T.J. Gillis.

Awards ceremonies, including this year’s outstanding golfer and rookie of the year, will wrap up the event on Thursday.